Football game



Nov. 22, 1960 .1. P. WALDROP FOOTBALL GAME 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 5, 1958 IKIIHIIIHHIHIII W m M N m E W M h E F 5 J Nov, 22, 1960 J. P. WALDROP 2,961,233

FOOTBALL am;

Filed March 5, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV ENT OR Ja /725950 pfisro/v Wm/90F;

BY 07420 1 44 ATTORNEYS Nov. 22, 1960 J. P. WALDROP 2,961,233

FOOTBALL GAME Filed March 5, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 MEL m I R a L U/ 7 & n

- INVENTOR JEFFERSON Pkttsw/v Mw/Fa/ ATTORNEYS Nov. 22, 1960 J. P. WALDROP 2,951,238

' FOOTBALL GAME Filed March 5, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS United States Patent FOOTBALL GAME Jefferson Preston Waldrop, 4125, Emerson, Dallas, Tex.

Filed Mar. 5, 1958, Ser. No. 719,317

3 Claims. (Cl. 273-94) This invention relates to a game and more particularly to a football game in which the actual game of football is simulated both offensively and defensively.

According to the present invention there is provided a game board having a central translucent area marked off so as to represent a football field. Disposed beneath the playing field there is provided an indicator means which is movable beneath the playing field by means of a linkage and lever arrangement under control of the player representing the team which is in control of the ball. This indicator means represents the position of the football on the field. The player representing the team which is acting defensively is provided with eleven miniature figures which are provided with means cooperating with the indicator means. The defensive player arranges these figures on the playing field in the manner he feels will stop any plays that the offensive team may run. The player representing the offensive team moves the indicator representing the ball according to the play he decides to run and if the path of the ball is through one of the miniature figures representing the defensive team a signal will be sounded indicating the end of the play.

Adjacent each side of the central area there is provided a small translucent section which is of a size exactly proportional to the large central football field. A light is disposed beneath this section and this light is mounted on the same linkage arrangement as the indicator means disposed beneath the large central playing area. The linkage is such that the movement of the light beneath the small translucent section is exactly proportional to the movement of the light beneath the central playing area. The player having the offensive team is provided with a number of transparent plastic cards having a line drawn thereon indicating the path of movement of the ball for various plays. The player selects one of these cards or plays and places it over the small translucent section. The lever and linkage arrangement is manipulated so that the light beneath the small translucent section follows the path indicated by the pattern. As indicated above, if this path passes beneath one of the defensive players, the play is stopped and the procedure is repeated until the player either makes a first down or is forced to punt. Punts, punt returns, passes and pass interception return, field goals and points after touchdown are determined by a spinner.

The presently described game provides stimulation for both players in that the player on defense is given the opportunity to arrange the miniature figures in a pattern calculated to stop the plays of the offensive team and the player with the offensive team must select that play which he feels will get through the defense set up and score a touchdown.

An object of the present invention is to provide a game in which the actual play of a football game is simulated both offensively and defensively.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon con- 2,961,233 Patented Nov. 2-2, 1960 sideration of the following detailed specification in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of the game board,

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the board,

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts in greater detail,

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the slidable member representing the ball and the movable ball line marker,

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the slidable member representing the ball,

Fig. 7 is a sectional view along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a sectional view along the line 8-8 of Fig. 6,

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view,

Fig. 10 is a sectional view along the line 10-10 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 11 is a perspective View of one of the elements of the present invention and,

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of one of the figures used with the game.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views there is shown in Fig. l a game board comprising a central section 1 having a football field marked out on a translucent section 2. Adjacent each side of the central section 1 are disposed panels 3 and 4 respectively. There is proivded a slot 5 extending between the central panel 1 and side panel 3 and a slot 6 extending between the central panel 1 and side panel 4. The side panels and central panel are maintained in position relative to one another by being supported in spaced relation to a common bottom panel as will be more fully apparent hereinafter. Side panel 3 has a rectangular portion thereof cut out into which is fitted a small translucent playing field 7 which is identical with part 2 but to a smaller scale. Similarly the side panel 4 has a scaled translucent field 8.

Referring now to Fig. 3 it can be seen that the central area 1 with the simulated football field 2 and side panels 3 and 4 are supported by a common base 9 having side walls 10 and 11. The operating elements for the game are mounted between the base plate 9 and the game board comprising panels 1, 3 and 4.

With reference to Fig. 2 certain of these operating elements will now be described. The base plate 9 is provided with a central thin metallic sheet 12 and smaller metallic plates 13 and 14. These metal plates 12, 13 and 14- are located beneath the parts 2, 7 and 8 respectively on the game board. Pivotally mounted on the base 9 at point 15 is a lazy tongs linkage 16 having an outer arm 17 which is rigidly connected to a slidable unit 18, the details of construction of which will be described in greater detail hereinafter. An operating arm 19 extends outwardly beyond the edge of the table and this arm is pivotally mounted on the base 9 by a pin and slot connection 20. The outer end of the arm 19 has a fixed pivot point 21 with the lazy tongs linkage 16. It can be readily appreciated that by manipulation of the lever 19 the lazy tongs linkage can be shifted so that the member 18 moves beneath the panel 2. The point 21 will be shifted beneath the panel 7 in a similar manner. There is provided a lazy tongs 22 which is mounted on the opposite side of the central panel and this linkage is provided with an operating arm 23 and functions in an identical manner so that the movement of pivot point 24 beneath panel 8 corresponds to the movement of member 18 beneath the panel 2.

There is provided a transformer or other source of electrical power 25 mounted on the base plate. One terminal of this source is connected as at 26 with a central metallic strip 12 which, in turn, has conducting connections 27 and 28 with the smaller metallic plates 13 and 14 respectively. The otherterminal 'of the source has connections with the operating arms 19 and 23. Referring to Fig. 3 it can beiseen that the'pivot point 21 has a light bulb 29 mounted thereon and this light bulbmake's a connection with the conducting plate 13.through the lower end thereof so that the position of the pivot point 21 can be readily'dete'rmined through the'translucent plate 7. The pivot point 24 or operating arm 23 is provided with a similar bulb 30 so that the position of this pivot point is visible through plate 8.

There is provided a guide member 31 which is slidahle in slots and 6 and is adapted to move the length of the field 2. As shown more clearly in Fig. 4 member 31 has inwardly extending flanges 32 which cooperate with outwardly extending flanges 33 on the central panel 1 so-as to retain the member 31 in slidable relationship with the central panel. That portion of member 31 which extends beneath the panel 2 is slotted as seen in Fig. 5 at 34 and the slidable member 18 fits within this slot 34. The member 31 has a pointer 35 and this pointer will indicate on the upper surface of the playing board the position of the member 18 which is disposed thereunder.

Reerring now to Figs. 6 and inclusive the details of construction of the member 18 will be described. Centrally mounted within the holder 18 as shown in Fig. 7 is a light bulb 36. This bulb has contact with the bottom metallic plate 12 through balls 37 and conducting plate 38. The current from the other terminal of the battery is supplied through the lazy tong linkage and through plates 39. Thus, the light 36 is illuminated at all times to indicate the position of the member 18 beneath the large central playing field 2. Mounted within the holder 18 and directly above the bulb 36 is a Lucite rod 48 so that the light from the bulb will be indicated as a spot beneath and shining thru the playing field 2. There is provided a buzzer 40 which has the coil thereof connected through the metallic plate 39 with one terminal of the battery. The other end of the coil is connected by means of wire 41 with a post 42 which has the upper end thereof connected with a stationary contact arm 43. Slidably mounted on the Lucite rod 48 is a sleeve 44 of magnetic material and this sleeve has a flanged rim at the lower end thereof engageable with the contact arm 43. When the sleeve 44 is moved upwardly it comes in contact with arm 43 thus completing the circuit to the other terminal of the battery, through the flanged rim of the magnet, the coiled spring under the magnet, through plate 46, post 47, plate 38, and metallic strip 12. Thus it can be seen that when the sleeve 44 is raised the buzzer will sound.

The presently disclosed game is played in the following manner. One player is given a plurality of players such as shown in Fig. 12 at 51 which are at least partially made of magnetic material 52. These players are arranged on the central playing area 2 in Whatever defensive setup the player wishes. The other player represents the team which has the 'ball and this player is provided with a plurality of small transparent plastic cards such as shown at 49 in Fig. 11, which cards are of approximately of the size of the panels 7 and 8. Each of these cards has markings 50 thereon representing a separate play such as, for example, an end run, an ofi tackle play, or a pass. The path of the ball for each particular play is marked on each transparent plastic card and the transparent plastic card which is selected is placed over the panel 7. The player then manipulates the lever 19 so that the light bulb 29 disposed beneath the panel 7 follows the path of the ball indicated on the transparent plastic card selected. As the lever 19 is moved the member 18 will shift beneath the large playing field 2. When the member 18 passes beneath one of the defensive players the sleeve '44 will be attracted by the magnetic material in the defensive player. This movement of the sleeve 44 will complete the circuit of the buzzer which will sound, indicating the .end of the play. The slide 31 will move with the member 18 and will indicate the point at which the ball is downed. The conventional game rules are followed, the player having the ball continuing to select plays for four downs unless he gains ten yards or more in which case the play continues. Punts, punt returns, passes and intercepted pass returns, field goals and points after touchdown are determined by a spinner (not shown), the player wishing to punt, for example, using the spinner to indicate the number of yards the ball is moved. When the other player takes possession of the ball the play is exactly the same with the players simply exchanging the figures representing the defensive team and the sheets which are placed over the areas 7 and 8 indicating the movement of the ball for various plays.

It is, of course, possible to eliminate the buzzer altogether and manufacture a simpler and less expensive game. In this modification the defensive players may be made of a clear plastic material and when the ball passes directly beneath one of these players the light will shine up through the player indicating that play has stopped. It is also possible to modify the construction of the member 18 so that the buzzer may be separately mounted on the baseboard and the member 18 serves to complete the circuit to this buzzer. I

It is also possible to provide patterns for lining up the defensive men to stop any particular play. That is to say, the player on the defense may believe that an off tackle play is about to be run in which case he selects the pattern a for setting up his defensive men which will best stop an off tackle play. If an off tackle play is run there will be no gain in the yardage out if, for example, an end run play is set, substantial yardage may result.

It can be seen that the presently disclosed game provides a close approximation of the actual game of football. Each of the players is given the opportunity to make those choices which are normally available to the offensive and defensive team captains respectively and the game is thus highly entertaining for both participants.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a game of the class described, a game board, a plurality of figures disposed on said game board in a predetermined arrangement, an element representing a ball disposed beneath the game board, a plurality of cards having patterns thereon representative of paths of movement of the ball, said cards being selected individually and placed in association with the game board, means connected to said element and extending beneath the preselected card and manually operable from the side of the game board to move said element, means mounted on said connecting means for tracing the pattern on the preselected card so that the element moves in accordance with the pattern on the card and means for indicating when the element passes beneath a figure on the game board.

2. In a game of the class described, a translucent game board having a playing field marked thereon, light means representing a ball disposed beneath the game board and viewable therethrough, a plurality of figures representing a team disposed on said game board in a predetermined arrangement, a plurality of cards having patterns thereon representative of various paths of movement of the ball for different game plays, said cards being selected individually and placed in association with the game board, a guide arm connected to said light means and extending beneath the preselected card and manually operable from the side of the game board to move the light means beneath the game board, means mounted on said guide arm for tracing the pattern on the preselected card so that the light means moves in accordance with the pattern on the card and means for indicating when the light means passes beneath a figure on the game board to signal completion of a play.

3. A game according to claim 2 wherein said indicator means comprises magnetic attraction means mounted on said figures and said light means, portions of said figures being translucent whereby said light means is viewable therethrough.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Henry Nov. 5, 1912 Wilson July 22, 1913 Wylie May 22, 1928 Linke May 10, 1932 Beatty July 18, 1933 Winter Nov. 18, 1941 Deaton Sept. 8, 1942 Neuzerling Mar. 8, 1949 

